Substituted phenoxy n-alkylated thiazolidinediones as estrogen related receptor-alpha modulators   

Abstract: methods for preparing these compounds, compositions, intermediates and derivatives thereof and for treating a condition including but not limited to ankylosing spondylitis, artherosclerosis, arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, childhood arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis), bone-related diseases (including those related to bone formation), breast cancer (including those unresponsive to anti-estrogen therapy), cardiovascular disorders, cartilage-related disease (such as cartilage injury/loss, cartilage degeneration, and those related to cartilage formation), chondrodysplasia, chondrosarcoma, chronic back injury, chronic bronchitis, chronic inflammatory airway disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, disorders of energy homeostasis, gout, pseudogout, lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome, multiple myeloma, obesity, osteoarthritis, osteogenesis imperfecta, osteolytic bone metastasis, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, Paget's disease, periodontal disease, polymyalgia rheumatica, Reiter's syndrome, repetitive stress injury, hyperglycemia, elevated blood glucose level, and insulin resistance. The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I),

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/893,458, filed Mar. 7, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to certain novel compounds, methods for preparing compounds, compositions, intermediates and derivatives thereof and for treating conditions such as cancer, arthritis, inflammatory airway disease, and metabolic disorders. More particularly, the compounds of the present invention are Estrogen Related Receptor alpha (ERR-α) modulators useful for treating, ameliorating or inhibiting the onset of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by ERR-α activity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nuclear receptors are members of a superfamily of transcription factors. The members of this family share structural similarities and regulate a diverse set of biological effects (Olefsky, J. M. J. Biol. Chem. 2001, 276(40), 36863-36864). Ligands activate or repress these transcription factors that control genes involved in metabolism, differentiation and reproduction (Laudet, V. and H. Gronmeyer. The Nuclear Receptor Factbooks. 2002, San Diego: Academic Press). Presently, the human genome project has identified about 48 members for this family and cognate ligands have been identified for about 28 of them (Giguere, V. Endocrine Rev. 1999, 20(5), 689-725). This protein family is composed of modular structural domains that can be interchanged within the members of the family without loss of function. A typical nuclear receptor contains a hypervariable N-terminus, a conserved DNA binding domain (DBD), a hinge region, and a conserved ligand-binding domain (LBD). The function of the DBD is targeting of the receptor to specific DNA sequences (NHR response elements or NREs), and the function of the LBD is recognition of its cognate ligand. Within the sequence of the nuclear receptor there are regions involved in transcriptional activation. The AF-1 domain is situated at the N-terminus and constitutively activates transcription (Rochette-Egly, C. et al. Cell 1997, 90, 97-107; Rochette-Egly, C. et al. Mol. Endocrinol. 1992, 6, 2197-2209), while the AF-2 domain is embedded within the LBD and its transcriptional activation is ligand dependent (Wurtz, J. M. et al. Nat. Struct. Biol. 1996, 3, 87-94). Nuclear receptors can exist as monomers, homodimers or heterodimers and bind to direct or inverted nucleotide repeats (Laudet and Gronmeyer, 2002; Aranda, A. and A. Pascual. Physiol. Rev. 2001, 81(3), 1269-1304).

The members of this family exist either in an activated or repressed basal biological state. The basic mechanism of gene activation involves ligand dependent exchange of co-regulatory proteins. These co-regulatory proteins are referred to as co-activators or co-repressors (McKenna, L. J. et al. Endocrine Rev. 1999, 20, 321-344). A nuclear receptor in the repressed state is bound to its DNA response element and is associated with co-repressor proteins that recruit histone de-acetylases (HDACs) (Jones, P. L. and Y. B. Shi. Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 2003, 274, 237-268). In the presence of an agonist there is an exchange of co-repressors with co-activators that in turn recruit transcription factors that assemble into an ATP dependent chromatin-remodeling complex. Histones are hyper-acetylated, causing the nucleosome to unfold, and repression is alleviated. The AF-2 domain acts as the ligand dependent molecular switch for the exchange of co-regulatory proteins. In the presence of an agonist the AF-2 domain undergoes a conformational transition and presents a surface on the LBD for interaction with co-activator proteins. In the absence of an agonist or in the presence of an antagonist the AF-2 domain presents a surface that promotes interactions with co-repressor proteins. The interaction surfaces on the LBD for both co-activators, and co-repressors overlap and provide a conserved molecular mechanism for gene activation or repression that is shared by the members of this family of transcription factors (Xu, H. E. et al. Nature 2002, 415 (6873), 813-817).

Natural ligands that modulate the biological activity of nuclear receptors have been identified for only approximately one half of known nuclear receptors. Receptors for which no natural ligand has been identified are termed “orphan receptors.” The discovery of ligands or compounds that interact with an orphan receptor will accelerate the understanding of the role of the nuclear receptors in physiology and disease and facilitate the pursuit of new therapeutic approaches. A sub-class of these receptors where no natural ligand has been identified is for the estrogen related receptors (ERRs).

ERR-α (also known as ERR-1), an orphan receptor, is the first of the three identified members of the estrogen receptor related subfamily of orphan nuclear receptors (ERR-α, β, γ). The ERR subfamily is closely related to the estrogen receptors (ER-α and ER-β). ERR-α and ERR-β were first isolated by a low stringency hybridization screen (Giguere, V. et al. Nature 1988, 331, 91-94) followed later with the discovery of ERR-γ (Hong, H. et al. J. Biol. Chem. 1999, 274, 22618-22626). The ERRs and ERs share sequence similarity with the highest homology observed in their DBDs, approximately 60%, and all interact with the classical DNA estrogen response element. Recent biochemical evidence suggested that the ERRs and ERs share target genes, including pS2, lactoferin, aromatase and osteopontin, and share co-regulator proteins (Giguere, V. Trends in Endocrinol. Metab. 2002, 13, 220-225; Vanacker, J. M. et al. EMBO J. 1999, 18, 4270-4279; Kraus, R. J. et al. J. Biol. Chem. 2002, 272, 24286-24834; Hong et al., 1999; Zhang, Z. and C. T. Teng. J. Biol. Chem. 2000, 275, 20387-20846). Therefore, one of the main functions of ERR is to regulate the response of estrogen responsive genes. The effect of the steroid hormone estrogen is primarily mediated in the breast, bone and endometrium. Thus, the identification of compounds that will interact with ERRs should provide a benefit for the treatment of bone related disease, breast cancer and reproduction.

ERR-α is shown to be present both in normal and breast cancer tissue (Ariazi, E. A. et al. Cancer Res. 2002, 62, 6510-6518). It has been reported that the main function of ERR-α in normal breast tissue is that of a repressor for estrogen responsive genes. In breast cancers or cell lines that are non-estrogen responsive (ER-α negative), ERR-α has been reported to be in an activated state (Ariazi et al., 2002). Therefore, compounds that will interact with ERR-α may be useful agents for the treatment of breast cancer that is ER-α negative and non-responsive to classical anti-estrogenic therapy, or may be used as an adjunct agent for anti-estrogen responsive breast cancers. These agents may act as antagonists by reducing the biological activity of ERR-α in these particular tissues.

Many post-menopausal women experience osteoporosis, a condition that is a result of the reduction of estrogen production. Reduction of estrogen levels results in an increase of bone loss (Turner, R. T. et al. Endocrine Rev. 1994, 15(3), 275-300). An anabolic effect on bone development has been observed on the administration of estrogens to postmenopausal patients with osteoporosis (Pacifici, R. J. Bone Miner. Res. 1996, 11(8), 1043-1051) but the molecular mechanism is unknown since ER-a and ER-b knock-out animals have minor skeletal defects, where the action of estrogens is typically mediated (Korach, K. S. Science 1994, 266, 1524-1527; Windahl, S. H. et al. J. Clin. Invest. 1999, 104(7), 895-901). Expression of ERR-α in bone is regulated by estrogen (Bonnelye, E. et al. Mol. Endocrin. 1997, 11, 905-916; Bonnelye, E. et al. J. Cell Biol. 2001, 153, 971-984). ERR-α is maintained throughout osteoblast differentiation stages. Over-expression of ERR-α in rat calvaria osteoblasts, an accepted model of bone differentiation, results in an increase of bone nodule formation, while treatment of rat calvaria osteoblasts with ERR-α antisense results in a decrease of bone nodule formation. ERR-α also regulates osteopontin, a protein believed to be involved in bone matrix formation. Therefore compounds that will modulate ERR-α by increasing its activity can have an anabolic effect for the regeneration of bone density and provide a benefit over current approaches that prevent bone loss, but have no anabolic effect. Such compounds can enhance the activity of the receptor by two possible mechanisms: i) enhancing the association of the receptor with proteins that enhance its activity or improve the stability of the receptor; and ii) increasing the intracellular concentrations of the receptor and consequently increasing its activity. Conversely, with respect to bone diseases that are a result of abnormal bone growth, compounds that will interact with ERR-α and decrease its biological activity may provide a benefit for the treatment of these diseases by retarding bone growth. Antagonism of the association of the receptor with co-activator proteins decreases the activity of the receptor.

ERR-α is also present in cardiac, adipose, and muscle tissue and forms a transcriptional active complex with the PGC-1 co-activator family, co-activators implicated with energy homeostasis, mitochondria biogenesis, hepatic gluconeogenesis and in the regulation of genes involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation (Kamei, Y. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2003, 100(21), 12378-12383). ERR-α regulates the expression of the medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase promoter (MCAD). Medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase is a gene involved in the initial reaction in fatty acid beta-oxidation. It is believed that in the adipose tissue ERR-a regulates energy expenditure through the regulation of MCAD (Sladek, R. et al. Mol. Cell. Biol. 1997, 17, 5400-5409; Vega, R. B. and D. P. Kelly. J. Biol. Chem. 1997, 272, 31693-31699). In antisense experiments in rat calvaria osteoblasts, in addition to the inhibition of bone nodule formation, there was an increase in adipocyte differentiation markers including aP2 and PPAR-γ (Bonnelye, E. et al. Endocrinology 2002, 143, 3658-3670). Recently an ERR-α knockout model has been described that exhibited reduced fat mass relative to the wild type and DNA chip analysis data indicated alteration of the expression levels of genes involved in adipogenesis and energy metabolism (Luo, J. et al. Mol. Cell. Biol. 2003, 23(22), 7947-7956). More recently it has been shown that ERR-α regulates the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, a gene that has a protective mechanism against arteriosclerosis (Sumi, D. and L. J. Ignarro. Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. 2003, 100, 14451-14456). The biochemical evidence supports the involvement of ERR-α in metabolic homeostasis and differentiation of cells into adipocytes. Therefore, compounds interacting with ERR-α can affect energy homeostasis and may therefore provide a benefit for the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome related disease indications, including arteriosclerosis and diabetes (Grundy, S. M. et al. Circulation 2004, 109(3), 433-438).

Lion Bioscience AG has disclosed the use of certain pyrazole derivatives as antagonists of ERR-α for treating cancer, osteoporosis, obesity, lipid disorders and cardiovascular disorders and for regulating fertility (European Published Patent Application 1398029).

There is a continuing need for new ERR-α inverse agonists. There is also a need for ERR-α inverse agonists useful for the treatment of conditions including but not limited to ankylosing spondylitis, artherosclerosis, arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, childhood arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis), bone-related diseases (including those related to bone formation), breast cancer (including those unresponsive to anti-estrogen therapy), cardiovascular disorders, cartilage-related disease (such as cartilage injury/loss, cartilage degeneration, and those related to cartilage formation), chondrodysplasia, chondrosarcoma, chronic back injury, chronic bronchitis, chronic inflammatory airway disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, disorders of energy homeostasis, gout, pseudogout, lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome, multiple myeloma, obesity, osteoarthritis, osteogenesis imperfecta, osteolytic bone metastasis, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, Paget\'s disease, periodontal disease, polymyalgia rheumatica, Reiter\'s syndrome, repetitive stress injury, hyperglycemia, elevated blood glucose level, and insulin resistance.

SUMMARY

In its many embodiments, the present invention provides novel compounds useful as, for example, ERR-α inverse agonists, methods of preparing such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more such compounds, methods of preparing pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more such compounds, and methods of treatment, prevention, inhibition or amelioration of one or more diseases associated with ERR-α using such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions.

One aspect of the present invention features a compound of Formula (I)

wherein

X is S or O;

n is 1-4

R1 is halo, optionally substituted C1-4alkyl, optionally substituted C1-4alkoxy, or hydroxyl;

R2 is selected from halo substituted C1-3alkyl, cyano, halo, —C(O)NH2, and —C(O)O—C1-4alkyl, or alternatively R2 is linked together to R3 to form an aryl fused to the phenyl ring to which R2 and R3 are shown attached;

R3 is H, or alternatively R3 is linked together to R2 to form an aryl ring fused to the phenyl ring to which R3 and R2 are shown attached;

R4 is halo, cyano, halo substituted C1-3alkyl, —C≡CH, —C(O)O—C1-4alkyl, —C(O)NH2, or —S(O2)—C1-4alkyl; and

R5 and R6 are independently H or optionally substituted C1-4alkyl, or alternatively R5 and R6 are linked together with the N atom to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted 5-9 membered N-containing heteroaryl or optionally substituted 5-7 membered N-containing heterocyclyl;

or an optical isomer, enantiomer, diastereomer, cis-trans isomer, racemate, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Another aspect of the present invention features a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of Formula (I) and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present invention also features a method of treating a subject suffering from or diagnosed with a disease, disorder, or condition mediated by ERR-α activity, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula (I). Such disease, disorder, or condition can include, but is not limited to ankylosing spondylitis, artherosclerosis, arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, childhood arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis), bone-related diseases (including those related to bone formation), breast cancer (including those unresponsive to anti-estrogen therapy), cardiovascular disorders, cartilage-related disease (such as cartilage injury/loss, cartilage degeneration, and those related to cartilage formation), chondrodysplasia, chondrosarcoma, chronic back injury, chronic bronchitis, chronic inflammatory airway disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, disorders of energy homeostasis, gout, pseudogout, lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome, multiple myeloma, obesity, osteoarthritis, osteogenesis imperfecta, osteolytic bone metastasis, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, Paget\'s disease, periodontal disease, polymyalgia rheumatica, Reiter\'s syndrome, repetitive stress injury, hyperglycemia, elevated blood glucose level, and insulin resistance. The therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) can be from about 0.1 mg/day to about 5000 mg/day.

The present invention further features a process for making a pharmaceutical composition comprising admixing any of the compounds according to Formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Additional embodiments and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed discussion, schemes, examples, and claims below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to novel ERR-α modulators and compositions thereof for the treatment, amelioration, prevention or inhibition of numerous conditions, including but not limited to cancer, arthritis, inflammatory airway disease, bone-related diseases, metabolic disorders, and associated symptoms or complications thereof.

One aspect of the present invention features a compound of Formula (I)

wherein

X is S or O;

n is 1-4

R1 is halo, optionally substituted C1-4alkyl, optionally substituted C1-4alkoxy, or hydroxyl;

R2 is selected from halo substituted C1-3alkyl, cyano, halo, —C(O)NH2, and —C(O)O—C1-4alkyl, or alternatively R2 is linked together to R3 to form an aryl fused to the phenyl ring to which R2 and R3 are shown attached;

R3 is H, or alternatively R3 is linked together to R2 to form an aryl ring fused to the phenyl ring to which R3 and R2 are shown attached;

R4 is halo, cyano, halo substituted C1-3alkyl, —C≡CH, —C(O)O—C1-4alkyl, —C(O)NH2, or —S(O2)—C1-4alkyl; and

R5 and R6 are independently H or optionally substituted C1-4alkyl, or alternatively R5 and R6 are linked together with the N atom to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted 5-9 membered N-containing heteroaryl or optionally substituted 5-7 membered N-containing heterocyclyl;

or an optical isomer, enantiomer, diastereomer, cis-trans isomer, racemate, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In particular, the present invention includes a cis-trans isomer of the compound of Formula (I), which has the following structure, wherein X, n, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are as described above:

Particularly, R1 is unsubstituted C1-4alkoxy. More particularly, R1 is —O—CH3.

Particularly, R2 is CF3.

Particularly, R3 is H.

Particularly, R2 is linked together to R3 to form an aryl fused to the phenyl ring to which R2 and R3 are shown attached. More particularly, R2 is linked together to R3 to form a phenyl fused to the phenyl ring to which R2 and R3 are shown attached.

Particularly, R2 is CF3 and R3 is H.

Particularly, R4 is cyano. More particularly, R4 is cyano and R2 is CF3.

Particularly, X is S.

Particularly, the present invention includes a compound of Formula (I) wherein R1 is —O—CH3; R2 is CF3; R3 is H; R4 is CN; X is S; R5 and R6 are independently C1-4alkyl, or alternatively R5 and R6 are linked together with the N atom to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted member selected from

or an optical isomer, enantiomer, diastereomer, racemate, cis-trans isomer, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

More particularly, an example of the present invention includes compounds of Formula (I) wherein R5 and R6 are —CH3, or alternatively R5 and R6 are linked together with the N atom to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted member selected from

It is an embodiment of the present invention to provide a compound selected from: 4-{2-Methoxy-4-[3-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[3-(2-Dimethylamino-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[2,4-Dioxo-3-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl)-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-(2-Methoxy-4-{3-[2-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-ethyl]-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl}-phenoxy)-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[3-(2-Dimethylamino-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-fluoro-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{2-Fluoro-4-[3-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[3-(2-Diethylamino-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[3-(2-Imidazol-1-yl-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[2,4-Dioxo-3-(2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl)-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[2,4-Dioxo-3-(2-pyrazol-1-yl-ethyl)-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[2,4-Dioxo-3-(2-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl-ethyl)-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[3-(2-Azepan-1-yl-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[2,4-Dioxo-3-(2-pyrrol-1-yl-ethyl)-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; and 4-{4-[2,4-Dioxo-3-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl)-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-fluoro-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile.

More particularly, the compound is

More particularly, the compound is

More particularly, the compound is

More particularly, the compound is

Another aspect of the present invention features a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of Formula (I) and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Particularly, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can further comprise at least one additional agent, drug, medicament, antibody and/or inhibitor for treating, ameliorating or preventing an ERR-α mediated disease. More particularly, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention comprises a compound selected from: 4-{2-Methoxy-4-[3-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[3-(2-Dimethylamino-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[2,4-Dioxo-3-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl)-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; and 4-(2-Methoxy-4-{3-[2-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-ethyl]-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl}-phenoxy)-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[3-(2-Dimethylamino-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-fluoro-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{2-Fluoro-4-[3-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[3-(2-Diethylamino-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[3-(2-Imidazol-1-yl-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[2,4-Dioxo-3-(2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl)-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[2,4-Dioxo-3-(2-pyrazol-1-yl-ethyl)-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[2,4-Dioxo-3-(2-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl-ethyl)-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[3-(2-Azepan-1-yl-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; 4-{4-[2,4-Dioxo-3-(2-pyrrol-1-yl-ethyl)-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile; and 4-{4-[2,4-Dioxo-3-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl)-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2-fluoro-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile.

More particularly, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention comprises at least

The present invention also features a method of treating a subject suffering from or diagnosed with a disease, disorder, or condition mediated by ERR-α activity, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula (I).

The present invention also features a method for preventing or inhibiting the progression of an ERR-α-mediated condition in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula (I).

The present invention also features a method for treating a prediabetic condition in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula (I).

Such disease, disorder, or condition can include, but is not limited to ankylosing spondylitis, artherosclerosis, arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, childhood arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis), bone-related diseases (including those related to bone formation), breast cancer (including those unresponsive to anti-estrogen therapy), cardiovascular disorders, cartilage-related disease (such as cartilage injury/loss, cartilage degeneration, and those related to cartilage formation), chondrodysplasia, chondrosarcoma, chronic back injury, chronic bronchitis, chronic inflammatory airway disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, disorders of energy homeostasis, gout, pseudogout, lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome, multiple myeloma, obesity, osteoarthritis, osteogenesis imperfecta, osteolytic bone metastasis, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, Paget\'s disease, periodontal disease, polymyalgia rheumatica, Reiter\'s syndrome, repetitive stress injury, hyperglycemia, elevated blood glucose level, and insulin resistance.

According to one aspect of the invention, the disclosed compounds and compositions are useful for the amelioration of symptoms associated with, the treatment of, and the prevention or inhibiting the progression of, the following conditions and diseases: bone-related disease, bone formation, cartilage formation, cartilage loss, cartilage degeneration, cartilage injury, ankylosing spondylitis, chronic back injury, gout, osteoporosis, osteolytic bone metastasis, multiple myeloma, chondrosarcoma, chondrodysplasia, osteogenesis imperfecta, osteomalacia, Paget\'s disease, polymyalgia rheumatica, pseudogout, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, childhood arthritis, Reiter\'s syndrome, and repetitive stress injury.

According to another aspect of the invention, the disclosed compounds and compositions are useful for the amelioration of symptoms associated with, the treatment of, and preventing and/or inhibiting the progression of, the following conditions and diseases: periodontal disease, chronic inflammatory airway disease, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the disclosed compounds and compositions are useful for the amelioration of symptoms associated with, the treatment of, and preventing and/or inhibiting the progression of breast cancer.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the disclosed compounds and compositions are useful for the amelioration of symptoms associated with, the treatment of, and preventing and/or inhibiting the progression of, the following conditions and diseases: metabolic syndrome, obesity, disorders of energy homeostasis, diabetes, lipid disorders, cardiovascular disorders, artherosclerosis, hyperglycemia, elevated blood glucose level, and insulin resistance.

Particularly, a method of the present invention comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of (a) at least one compound of Formula (I); and (b) at least one additional agent selected from a second ERR-α inverse agonist, an ERR-α antagonist, a glucokinase modulator, an anti-diabetic agent, an anti-obesity agent, a lipid lowering agent, an anti-thrombotic agent, direct thrombin inhibitor, and a blood pressure lowering agent, said administration being in any order. More particularly, the additional agent in (b) is a second ERR-α inverse agonist different from the compound in (a). More particularly, the additional agent in (b) is an anti-obesity agent selected from CB1 antagonists, monoamine reuptake inhibotors, and lipase inhibitors. More particularly, the additional agent in (b) is selected from rimonabant, sibutramine, and orlistat.

The present invention also features a method for treating or inhibiting the progression of one or more ERR-α-mediated conditions, said method comprising administering to a patient in need of treatment a pharmaceutically effective amount of a composition of the invention.

It is a further embodiment of the invention to provide a process for making a pharmaceutical composition comprising admixing any of the compounds according to Formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The invention also features pharmaceutical compositions which include, without limitation, one or more of the disclosed compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a method for treating or ameliorating an ERR-α-mediated condition in a subject in need thereof comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula (I), wherein the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 0.1 mg/dose to about 5 g/dose. In particular, the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 0.5 mg/dose to about 1000 mg/dose. More particularly, the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 1 mg/dose to about 100 mg/dose. In a further embodiment of the invention, the number of doses per day of a compound of Formula (I) is from 1 to 3 doses. In a further embodiment of the invention, the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 0.001 mg/kg/day to about 30 mg/kg/day. More particularly, the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 0.01 mg/kg/day to about 2 mg/kg/day.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a method for preventing or inhibiting the progression of an ERR-α-mediated condition in a subject in need thereof comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula (I), wherein the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 0.1 mg/dose to about 5 g/dose. In particular, the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 1 mg/dose to about 100 mg/dose. In a further embodiment of the invention, the number of doses per day of a compound of Formula (I) is from 1 to 3 doses. In a further embodiment of the invention, the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 0.001 mg/kg/day to about 30 mg/kg/day. More particularly, the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 0.01 mg/kg/day to about 2 mg/kg/day.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a method for treating a prediabetic condition in a subject in need thereof, comprises administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula (I), wherein the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 0.1 mg/dose to about 5 g/dose. In particular, the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 1 mg/dose to about 100 mg/dose. In a further embodiment of the invention, the number of doses per day of a compound of Formula (I) is from 1 to 3 doses. In a further embodiment of the invention, the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 0.001 mg/kg/day to about 30 mg/kg/day. More particularly, the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula (I) is from about 0.01 mg/kg/day to about 2 mg/kg/day.

The invention is further described below.

Some terms are defined below and by their usage throughout this disclosure.

Unless otherwise noted, “alkyl” as used herein, whether used alone or as part of a substituent group, refers to a saturated, branched, or straight-chain monovalent hydrocarbon radical derived by the removal of one hydrogen atom from a single carbon atom of a parent alkane. Typical alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl; ethyls such as ethanyl; propyls such as propan-1-yl, propan-2-yl, cyclopropan-1-yl; butyls such as butan-1-yl, butan-2-yl, 2-methyl-propan-1-yl, 2-methyl-propan-2-yl, cyclobutan-1-yl and the like. In preferred embodiments, the alkyl groups are C1-6alkyl, with C1-3 being particularly preferred. “Alkoxy” radicals are oxygen ethers formed from the previously described straight or branched chain alkyl groups. In some embodiments, the alkyl or alkoxy are independently substituted with one to five, preferably one to three groups including, but not limited to, oxo, amino, alkoxy, carboxy, heterocyclyl, hydroxyl, and halo (F, Cl, Br, or I).

The term “alkenyl” refers to an unsaturated branched, straight-chain or cyclic monovalent hydrocarbon radical, which has at least one carbon-carbon double bond, derived by the removal of one hydrogen atom from a single carbon atom of a parent alkene. The radical may be in either the cis or trans conformation about the double bond(s). Typical alkenyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethenyl; propenyls such as prop-1-en-1-yl, prop-1-en-2-yl, prop-2-en-1-yl, prop-2-en-2-yl, cycloprop-1-en-1-yl; cycloprop-2-en-1-yl; butenyls such as but-1-en-1-yl, but-1-en-2-yl, 2-methyl-prop-1-en-1-yl, but-2-en-1-yl, but-2-en-1-yl, but-2-en-2-yl, buta-1,3-dien-1-yl, buta-1,3-dien-2-yl, cyclobut-1-en-1-yl, cyclobut-1-en-3-yl, cyclobuta-1,3-dien-1-yl, etc.; and the like. In some embodiments, the alkenyl is substituted with one to five, preferably one to three groups including, but not limited to, oxo, amino, alkoxy, carboxy, heterocyclyl, hydroxyl, and halo.

The term “alkynyl” refers to an unsaturated branched, straight-chain or cyclic monovalent hydrocarbon radical, which has at least one carbon-carbon triple bond, derived by the removal of one hydrogen atom from a single carbon atom of a parent alkyne. Typical alkynyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethynyl; propynyls such as prop-1-yn-1-yl, prop-2-yn-1-yl, etc.; butynyls such as but-1-yn-1-yl, but-1-yn-3-yl, but-3-yn-1-yl, etc.; and the like. In some embodiments, the alkynyl is substituted with one to five, preferably one to three groups including, but not limited to, oxo, amino, alkoxy, carboxy, heterocyclyl, hydroxyl, and halo.

The term “heteroaryl” refers to a monovalent heteroaromatic radical derived by the removal of one hydrogen atom from a single atom of a parent heteroaromatic ring system. Typical heteroaryl groups include monocyclic and bicyclic systems where one or both rings is heteroaromatic. Heteroaromatic rings may contain 1-4 heteroatoms selected from O, N, and S. Examples include but are not limited to, radicals derived from carbazole, imidazole, indazole, indole, indolizine, isoindole, isoquinoline, isothiazole, isoxazole, naphthyridine, oxadiazole, oxazole, purine, pyrazine, pyrazole, pyridazine, pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrrole, pyrrolizine, quinazoline, quinoline, quinolizine, quinoxaline, tetrazole, thiadiazole, thiazole, thiophene, triazole, xanthene, and the like. In some embodiments, “heteroaryl” is substituted. For instance, “heteroaryl” can be substituted with, e.g., optionally substituted C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, C2-6alkynyl, halo, hydroxyl, —CN, —C(O)OH, —C(O)O—C1-4alkyl, —C(O)NR′R″—OR′, —SR′—C(O)R′, —N(R′)(R″), —S(O)2—R′, and —S(O)2—N(R′)(R″), wherein R′ and R″ are independently selected from H, C1-6-alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and/or heterocyclyl.

The term “aryl,” as used herein, refers to aromatic groups comprising a stable six-membered monocyclic, or ten-membered bicyclic or fourteen-membered tricyclic aromatic ring system which consists of carbon atoms. Examples of aryl groups include, but are not limited to, phenyl or naphthalenyl. In some embodiments, “aryl” is substituted. For instance, “aryl” can be substituted with, e.g., optionally substituted C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, C2-6alkynyl, halo, hydroxyl, —CN, —C(O)OH, —C(O)O—C1-4alkyl, —C(O)NR′R″, —SR′, —OR′, —C(O)R′, —N(R′)(R″), —S(O)2—R′, and —S(O)2—N(R′)(R″), wherein R′ and R″ are independently selected from H, C1-6-alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and/or heterocyclyl.

The term “heterocyclyl” or “heterocycle” is a 3- to 8-member saturated, or partially saturated single or fused ring system which consists of carbon atoms and from 1 to 6 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S. The heterocyclyl group may be attached at any heteroatom or carbon atom which results in the creation of a stable structure. Example of heterocyclyl groups include, but are not limited to, 2-imidazoline, imidazolidine; morpholine, oxazoline, 2-pyrroline, 3-pyrroline, pyrrolidine, pyridone, pyrimidone, piperazine, piperidine, indoline, tetrahydrofuran, 2-pyrroline, 3-pyrroline, 2-imidazoline, 2-pyrazoline, indolinone. In some embodiments, “heterocyclyl” or “heterocycle” are independently substituted. For instance, “heterocyclyl” or “heterocycle” can be substituted with, e.g., optionally substituted C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, C2-6alkynyl, halo, hydroxyl, —CN, —C(O)OH, —C(O)O—C1-4alkyl, —C(O)NR′R″—OR′, —SR′—C(O)R′, —N(R′)(R″), —S(O)2—R′, and —S(O)2—N(R′)(R″), wherein R′ and R″ are independently selected from H, C1-6-alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and/or heterocyclyl.

The term “oxo” whether used alone or as part of a substituent group refers to an O═ to either a carbon or a sulfur atom. For example, phthalimide and saccharin are examples of compounds with oxo substituents.

The term “cis-trans isomer” refers to stereoisomeric olefins or cycloalkanes (or hetero-analogues) which differ in the positions of atoms (or groups) relative to a reference plane: in the cis-isomer the atoms are on the same side; in the trans-isomer they are on opposite sides.

The term “substituted” refers to a radical in which one or more hydrogen atoms are each independently replaced with the same or different substituent(s).

With reference to substituents, the term “independently” means that when more than one of such substituent is possible, such substituents may be the same or different from each other.

The term “composition” is intended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients in the specified amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combinations of the specified ingredients in the specified amounts.

The term “subject” as used herein, refers to an animal, preferably a mammal, most preferably a human, who is the object of treatment, observation or experiment.

It is intended that the definition of any substituent or variable at a particular location in a molecule be independent of its definitions elsewhere in that molecule. It is understood that substituents and substitution patterns on the compounds of this invention can be selected by one of ordinary skill in the art to provide compounds that are chemically stable and that can be readily synthesized by techniques known in the art as well as those methods set forth herein.

The term “inverse agonist” as used herein refers to compounds or substances that have the ability to decrease the constitutive level of receptor activation in the absence of an agonist instead of only blocking the activation induced by agonist binding at the receptor.

Metabolic disorders, diseases, or conditions include, but are not limited to, diabetes, obesity, and associated symptoms or complications thereof. They include such conditions as IDDM (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), NIDDM (non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), IGT (Impaired Glucose Tolerance), IFG (Impaired Fasting Glucose), Syndrome X (or Metabolic Syndrome), hyperglycemia, elevated blood glucose level, and insulin resistance. A condition such as IGT or IFG is also known as a “prediabetic condition” or “prediabetic state.”

Methods are known in the art for determining effective doses for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes for the disclosed pharmaceutical compositions or the disclosed drug combinations, whether or not formulated in the same composition. For therapeutic purposes, the term “therapeutically effective amount” as used herein, means that amount of each active compound or pharmaceutical agent, alone or in combination, that elicits the biological or medicinal response in a tissue system, animal or human that is being sought by a researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician, which includes alleviation of the symptoms of the disease or disorder being treated. For prophylactic purposes (i.e., inhibiting the onset or progression of a disorder), the term “therapeutically effective amount” refers to that amount of each active compound or pharmaceutical agent, alone or in combination, that treats or inhibits in a subject the onset or progression of a disorder as being sought by a researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician. Thus, the present invention provides combinations of two or more drugs wherein, for example, (a) each drug is administered in an independently therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount; (b) at least one drug in the combination is administered in an amount that is sub-therapeutic or sub-prophylactic if administered alone, but is therapeutic or prophylactic when administered in combination with the second or additional drugs according to the invention; or (c) both (or more) drugs are administered in an amount that is sub-therapeutic or sub-prophylactic if administered alone, but are therapeutic or prophylactic when administered together.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable salts (Ref. International J. Pharm., 1986, 33, 201-217; J. Pharm. Sci., 1997 (January), 66, 1, 1). Other salts well known to those in the art may, however, be useful in the preparation of compounds according to this invention or of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Representative organic or inorganic acids include, but are not limited to, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, hydriodic, perchloric, sulfuric, nitric, phosphoric, acetic, propionic, glycolic, lactic, succinic, maleic, fumaric, malic, tartaric, citric, benzoic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, hydroxyethanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, oxalic, pamoic, 2-naphthalenesulfonic, p-toluenesulfonic, cyclohexanesulfamic, salicylic, saccharinic or trifluoroacetic acid. Representative organic or inorganic bases include, but are not limited to, basic or cationic salts such as benzathine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, ethylenediamine, meglumine, procaine, aluminum, calcium, lithium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and zinc.

Representative compounds of the present invention are listed in Table I below:

TABLE I STRUCTURE COMPOUND # NAME 1 4-{2-Methoxy-4-[3-(2-morpholin-4-yl- ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5- ylidenemethyl]-phenoxy}-3- trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile 2 4-{4-[3-(2-Dimethylamino-ethyl)-2,4- dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl]-2- methoxy-phenoxy}-3-trifluoromethyl- benzonitrile

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